​Whether you’re planning a birthday treat, hen do surprise or beautiful baby shower, get crafty and learn to crochet! Thats just what my bestie Nicky did!

Nicky and I have been friends since childhood, we lost contact for awhile when we went off to university but were reunited when we both had our second child. With two years of weekly playdates and another bundle of cuteness on the way, Nicky not me, we're closer than ever. This is why I was so excited when she asked me to host a crochet baby shower at her home for her friends and family.

Nicky and I chatted in length about what kind of crochet party she wanted. Nicky chose the granny square project and the yarn colours, which I have to add are to die for, and I provided all the materials and equipment for the session along with my years of crochet experience.

Crochet granny squares are super addictive and a fun 'together' project. Nicky and her friends worked as a group to create an array of beautiful crochet squares which I will patchwork together into a fabulous keepsake blanket for the baby. See Part 2 for the big reveal.

​I'm in love with the whole creative baby shower concept as everyone close to the mum and baby create a little piece of love that can be treasured forever. Yuk, I know right, but I think it's brilliant.

Nicky invited ten of her closest girlies and we all enjoyed an afternoon of crochet and cake. Most of the group were beginners with only a couple who'd crocheted before. 'April' 'April' was called from all sides of the room and I darted around the group as best I could to offer my support where needed. It was a busy old afternoon but I loved it. As you can imagine there was lots of giggles and girly banter.

Tea, wine, cake and crochet, what more could you ask for. It was a perfect afternoon. ​There was a constant supply of fabulous refreshments courtesy of Nicky herself. (Not that I got to sample much of it because I was so busy!) And a beautiful afternoon tea lovingly created by the talented Gemma May Cakes (who just so happens to be my big sister). If you haven't already sampled her delights, pop over to her Facebook page and have a gander.

Creative get togethers are becoming a more and more popular option when celebrating a birthday, hen do or baby shower. If you know someone that's creative and wants to learn a new skill then why not get in touch. I love sharing my knowledge and love of crochet with others and what better excuse than a gathering of friends with tea, wine or cake or even better, all of the above!

Does anyone ever feel like they’ve taken on too much? This week I have had those feelings. Don’t get me wrong I am more organised and prepared for things than I have ever been but this week it has all got on top of me.

It’s so natural to want to compare myself to others and feel left behind but I have to constantly remind myself I am not them, I am my own person with my own ideas, I am also a mum of two beautiful girls and work a part time job, a job which is currently super hectic.

Many of my competitors /creative peers run their businesses full time and don’t have children or if they do they are older and time is more flexible. I am not saying their lives are easy by any means but circumstances are different so I cannot compare, I must not compare! (I must NOT compare!)

This week I have been very low. My brain has said one thing (strong positive thoughts) but my body and emotions have said another. I am feeling exhausted. My girls have been testing and the house has felt tense. No one thing has been a trigger but it’s been hard to shift that mood. I want so much for each element and love in my life but sometimes somethings got to give and that thing this time is my business.

If I take anything from these feelings it is that life is short, it's to be lived and appreciated and often I can lose track of this.​As we move closer to the weekend and I plan some exciting activities I slowly feel these feelings shifting. I have a super awesome crochet baby shower to host tomorrow for my bestie who is due her third little bundle of joy in just a few short weeks. Hubby and I are also having a massive sort out of stuff to charity shop or sell… and there’s a lot. I do love a good clear out and am so excited to get stuck in. A clear house means a clear mind, just the tonic I think! I know this might seem strange but I’m sure I’m not the only one with an addiction to organisation! It's going to make me feel so happy to tick this off the to do list.

So, the to do list! If you have to have one thing on your to do list it is to have a to do list. I cannot function properly unless I have all of my thoughts scribbled down in my notebook, this applies to all aspects of life. I have a jobs list for home, an action plan list for my creative biz and I even have a list with lists I need to create.

I've not ticked much off my to do list for a few days but its not for want of trying. I keep finding more things to fill my time and the list keeps getting bigger. This blog post for instance wasn't on the to do list but I just had to share my words with you. Not sure if any of this is of any interest to anyone but for those that have taken the time to read my ramblings I thank you. Its amazing how my woes are lifting after just a few words. Here's to a productive and motivational weekend.

Curious about crochet!

Curious? Who’s Curious? I am. On Saturday I joined the lovely ladies over at Curious for my first crochet workshop of the new season.

If you haven’t heard about Curious then you’re in for a treat. Curious? Is the working studio of artists and makers Sarah Manton (theSarahManton), Sarah Sewell (Wildgoose Designs) and Jess Kemp (Jakinthegreen). The girls have 3 fantastic units in the newly renovated Sneinton Market avenues in Nottingham. One is their shared studio space and the other two are where they invite local artists and talented folk to run creative workshops.

This is where I come in. I feel so privileged to have been invited to run my crochet workshops at this wonderful location. Just like my own business Curious is a brand new venture and it’s so exciting to be joining their collaboration from the very start.

Curious, Unit 20-22, Avenue B, Sneinton Market. So pretty!

A paparazzi shot of the wonderful Jess Kemp crocheting at her studio table.

Ooohh, what a pretty wall! Another one of my loves... storage. Curious have the best!

​Saturday saw my first crochet workshop back after months of prep and launch mayhem. I kicked started my workshops with an Introduction to Crochet class. I was joined by four talented ladies who all had their own stories to tell about their crochet journeys so far, one of which was Curious' Jess Kemp herself.

​Beginners crochet workshops are my favourite because students come in feeling lost and go away with the skills and confidence to tackle their crochet desires. In this session we covered holding the hook and yarn, creating a foundation chain, double crochet, treble crochet and then moved onto producing a couple of granny squares. Not bad for a 2.5 hour workshop, oh I almost forget we learnt how to change colour too!

Here's a picture summery of our day...

I bloomin’ love to teach and hope to see some of you soon at my future workshops and events. ​

So what’s coming up?

I have a Crochet Squares workshop in October, Crochet Colourwork in November and then I am working on a special Christmas themed workshop for December. All of these workshops are great for experienced beginners and by experienced beginners I mean anyone that knows how to hold their hook and yarn and produce the basic stitches… Is that you?

If you’re in to crochet but not keen on joining a scheduled crochet workshop then why not pop along to Crochet Clinic on the first Wednesday of the month. Crochet Clinic is a drop in social session suitable for anyone wanting a bit of guidance or inspiration, plus there’s tea and cake on tap.